2 Arrested in Tourist Attack in Palm Springs
Palm Springs police arrested two men described as white supremacists on suspicion of attacking two Polish tourists over the weekend.
The incident occurred Saturday evening in a downtown Palm Springs alley. The suspects, according to Palm Springs Police Sgt. Walt Madison, “took offense to the fact that the young men that bumped into them could not apologize in English.”
A fight ensued, Madison said.
“The Polish guys were tougher than the white supremacists thought,” Madison said. “One of the white supremacists took a knife and stabbed one of the Polish tourists twice.”
The stabbing victim was treated at a hospital. Both tourists’ names were withheld.
Police arrested Terrance Peter Gallagher, 22, of North Palm Springs on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. He was released on $25,000 bail.
William Edic, 21, of Cathedral City also was arrested but later released.
Police said Gallagher and Edic, who deny they are white supremacists, do not belong to an organized white supremacy group.
The detective assigned to the case did not recommend it be prosecuted as a hate crime. The Riverside County district attorney’s office will determine the charges.
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